So I've been on the fence about getting a mixer. As of right now, I'm 100% ITB using Pro Tools 12 and the Apollo Twin. I use mainly UAD and Slate plugins, but I was thinking of running my tracks through the mixer, picking up some analog taste, then sending the tracks back into the box.

If the mixer has quality EQs and direct outs then I would say it is very much worth it. I would put quality outboard processing (eqs comps) as a priority, used in a hybrid situation, before getting a console strictly for summing purposes (if you have a DAW).

Problem is all modern consoles are as clean as possible, so using them in hybrid setup without any outboard just gives you some more noise and one AD-DA loop, that's all. Low noise levels indeed can make you experience of "more detail" or "wider soundstage", due to psychoacoustics effects of random noise, but this can be acheved ITB easily.

Good idea is to get a console which has musically useful EQs and has some musically nice distortions when pushed a little. They're either expensive (API, Aurora...), or old ones that needs maintanance.

Working with live music i like to use old consoles, but it is really hard to find one that sounds good clipping peaks on, say, drums and percussion. Maybe it is even better to find a multichannel device for soft-clipping. But again - you can make it ITB.

So I've been on the fence about getting a mixer. As of right now, I'm 100% ITB using Pro Tools 12 and the Apollo Twin. I use mainly UAD and Slate plugins, but I was thinking of running my tracks through the mixer, picking up some analog taste, then sending the tracks back into the box.

Mix ITB, send channels to the mixer, then back to the box.
Send channels to the mixer, back to box, mix ITB
Not get a mixer at all

Also, I'm currently building an SSL 2Bus compressor, so maybe that'll get the sound I'm looking for?

Any input is extremely appreciated. Thanks guys.

I think your mixes sound pretty good, nice job.

Instead of a mixer, maybe look at building a vocal chain with some quality outboard: look at a better mic, LA2A style compressor, EQ, preamp, etc.

It sounds like you're mostly in the box as far as instrumentation goes, so I don't know how much a mixer is going to add. Summing is very subtle, and as others have stated, you can achieve some width/depth with harmonic distortion, haas effect, etc.

If the mixer has quality EQs and direct outs then I would say it is very much worth it. I would put quality outboard processing (eqs comps) as a priority, used in a hybrid situation, before getting a console strictly for summing purposes (if you have a DAW).